Bio-retention swale testing, Area 2, after three years

Decade-long research identifies suitable plants for wet conditions

22/09/2023 Todd Layt 558 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By Todd Layt

Evaluation of survivability of different landscape plants in various wet feet conditions.

Waterlogging has become a significant horticultural topic, particularly as our industry observed Australia enduring three years of exceptional wet conditions, including record floods. In a recent decade-long Australian study, researchers examined the impact of urbanisation and altered land use on ecosystems, particularly related to weather extremes, plant waterlogging, and increased flooding.… Continue reading

Something to suit everyone

Retail

Like a good wine, Altra Nursery gets better with age

22/09/2023 Karen Smith 717 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By Karen Smith

This immaculate boutique nursery in Sydney’s South has managed to stay afloat when other nursery businesses in the area have disappeared through the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), the rising number of big box stores, the last El Nino, and the COVID19 Pandemic.… Continue reading

Careers Careers & Education

Ten pathways in amenity horticulture – Part 1

21/09/2023 Daniel Fuller 651 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By Daniel Fuller

Amenity horticulture is more than just mowing, pruning plants, and spraying weeds. You can move from one sector of this industry to another to keep things fresh. Let’s look into ten pathways you can take in amenity horticulture, from production to maintenance and beyond.… Continue reading

Greener Spaces Better Places Update

What’s Growing on?

21/09/2023 Hort Innovation 612 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

WE HAVE BIG PLANS FOR THE NEW FINANCIAL YEAR

Welcome to this month’s Greener Spaces Better Places program update. Read on to find out the latest news and highlights to keep you up to date on what’s happening and how you can benefit.… Continue reading

The world’s largest plant is a sea grass Posidonia australis (Image: Rachel Austin, University of Western Australia)

International Plant Propagation Society

Plants that have rewritten the record books

21/09/2023 Dan Austin 711 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By Daniel Austin

The kingdom of plants is a big one, each member is a standout and potential record holder if you dig deep enough. Even something as seemingly obvious as the world’s largest plant hasn’t been as straightforward as it might have seemed.… Continue reading

Playspaces that are well planted with trees offer nature play in mini forests (images supplied by Remarkable Trees)

Plants Trees

Ideas for improving tree outcomes in new development areas

21/09/2023 Jason Summers 674 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By Jason Summers

Creating treescapes can be impactful and improve the look and feel of a destination. To achieve high quality outcomes, it takes a lot of planning and appropriate species selection that is relevant to the location and local environmental conditions.… Continue reading

Male red and blue beetle (images supplied by Denis Crawford)

Environment & Sustainability Pest and Diseases

Overlooked predatory insects

21/09/2023 Denis Crawford 907 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By Denis Crawford

We are all familiar with predators such as ladybird beetles and lacewings, but some of the less familiar predators are just as important.

Ladybird beetles are certainly the most well-known predators and common species are instantly recognisable with their bright colours and dark spots.… Continue reading

Capricorn catchments group discussing planting techniques

Botanic Gardens

Bringing Nature Back: Yeppen Lagoon – Riparian Restoration Projects, Rockhampton Botanic Garden

21/09/2023 Stuart Elder 800 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By Stuart Elder

Yeppen Yeppen (now known as the Yeppen Lagoon) is located at the gateway to Rockhampton City, Central Queensland on Darumbal Country. Situated on the Fitzroy River floodplain, the Lagoon links directly to the Great Barrier Reef catchment. Recognised as Rockhampton’s first town water supply in 1861, the Lagoon continues to play a key role in our community today, providing a picturesque backdrop for a popular walking, running, cycling, fishing and birdwatching area.… Continue reading

A well-protected paperbark tree (Image: Janet Hodgkiss)

Trees

Garden trees – the choices we make

21/09/2023 Patrick Regnault 607 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, gardening, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, landscape design, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By Patrick Regnault

There is a big emphasis on planting trees in gardens, parks and streets to help cool down our towns and cities, and to reduce the need for air conditioning. Whilst trees bring great benefits, we also need to be smart and mostly practical about which trees to use, where to plant them and how to look after them.… Continue reading

A tough plant that will pop out of wall crevices (Image: Clive Larkman)

Plant Palette Plants

Capparis – more than just capers

21/09/2023 Clive Larkman 628 Views 0 Comments #Tree, Botanic gardens, Garden Design, horticultural, horticultural industry, landscape, Ornamental trees, Shade Trees

By Clive Larkman

On a recent trip to the central Mediterranean I observed some tough growing conditions. Most of the plants were non-native but one that stood out was Capparis spinosa – the Caper Bush. It is a tough plant that is able to establish itself in poor conditions with minimal water and virtually no soil.… Continue reading